One of the thingsI always loved about teaching,especially in the Middle School,was the influence I hadto speak truthinto minds that wereseeking to realizewho they werein this mixed up world.

And while my jobwas to teach math,there always seemedan opportunity to give thema few bonus lessonson things likemanners,responsibility,positive attitude,motivation,hard work, and even how tolaugh at your own mistakes.

Because heaven knowsI made a few of those myself,even in the classroom.

So on any given day,I tried to be flexibleand open mindedabout student needsas well as what theycould teach me.

So it's not a surprisewhen I read about Jesusand His disciples walkingthrough their journeyas teacher and students.For He was always lookingfor similar teaching points,even though He probablyalready had a lesson planin mind for each day.

And on one particular daythey came upon a manwho was blind since birth.

Now in most of the miraclesI have read up to this point,the disciples have been pretty quietand the dialogue was strictlybetween Jesus andthe person to be healed.

But not this time.Today, the disciples decided to askwhy this man was born blind.As if it was the fault of his parentsfor sinning... or even his own.

But Jesus said...Neither this mannor his parents sinned,but that the works of Godshould be revealed in him.John 9:3 NKJV

And without so much as a wordto the blind man, Jesus began...When He had said these things,He spat on the ground andmade clay with the saliva; andHe anointed the eyes of the blind manwith the clay.And He said to him,“Go, wash in the pool of Siloam”(which is translated, Sent).So he went and washed,and came back seeing.John 9:6-7 NKJV

Any typically, that would be it.They healed would go on,often rejoicing, but not much else.But not on this day.For what happened nextbecame quite a fiasco.

For this man's own neighbor's,people who had known himand lived near him his whole life,began to doubt that it was really himwho was walking around with sight.

And then the Pharisees got wind of it.So they called him before their courtfor questioning of this matter.And they made him tell his storyas to how this all happened...trying to determineif he really had been blind.

And they asked him about the manwho gave him his sight and whohe believed the man to be.He said, “He is a prophet.”

But the Phariseesjust became more confusedand divided over the issues.

And all I can think is... why?Like, the man formerly blindcouldn't simply begin to enjoythis grand miracle of visionand venture about seeing new colorsnew places, new faces, new visions.Because people around him were stuckdoubting and making him provethat he was actually... well himself.

But even that was not good enough.For then the Pharisees called in his parents.They wanted his parents to provethat their son was really ​blind since birth.As if Jesus was playingsome kind of trick on them.

His parents answered them and said,“We know that this is our son,and that he was born blind;but by what means he now seeswe do not know, orwho opened his eyeswe do not know.He is of age; ask him.He will speak for himself.”

His parents said these thingsbecause they feared the Jews,for the Jews had agreed alreadythat if anyone confessedthat He was Christ,he would be put out of the synagogue.John 9:20-22

How very sad...his very parents being quietedby tactics of fear.They seemed to not evenbe able to celebrate this miraclebecause they were put on the standlike they were criminals.

So again, the Pariseescalled the formerly blind man back.

And I must say...for me, this is where it gets interesting!So I'm going to ask you to stretch...you've just got to read itlike you're watching a movie.

Or try to put some real emotionto the words written.Dont leave them flat on the page.Try to imagine this being lived out.These men are jealous, angry,trying to find some crime to pin on Jesus.

Haven't you ever known someoneyou can't stand.And every thing they saydrives you crazy.Every thing they do,makes you nuts.

That's how the Parisees feltabout Jesus.They were obsessed and drivento prove him wrong.

So now they had the newly sighted manstanding in front of them again.And he was simply eagerto get on with his life and gratefulfor what Jesus had done for him.

But they had accused Jesusof being a sinner because Hehealed on the Sabbath.So now they asked this newly sightedman for his take on that...

He answered and said,“Whether He is a sinner or notI do not know. One thing I know:that though I was blind, now I see.”Then they said to him again,“What did He do to you?How did He open your eyes?”

He answered them,“I told you already,and you did not listen.Why do you want to hear it again?Do you also want to becomeHis disciples?”John 9:25-27

This is so rich to me.Its as if this man is innocentto all their anger and jealousy of Jesus.He seems so not understandwhy they can't now seethe obvious, like him.

What did He do to you?How did He open your eyes?

That must have steamed them.And then that last linejust cracks me up!Do you also want to becomeHis disciples?”

Do you realize how muchthat must have upset them?The man was basically saying,If you really want to knowhow He does things,follow Him around as closeas His disciples do, and find out.

And they actually did.They were always following Jesus.Not to be like Him,not to be one of His disciples.​But rather, to catch Himdoing something wrong.

So to the man, they said...“You are His disciple,but we are Moses’ disciples.We know that God spoke to Moses;as for this fellow,we do not know where He is from.”

The man answeredand said to them,“Why, this is a marvelous thing,that you do not knowwhere He is from;yet He has opened my eyes!John 9:28-30

These men respected Mosesmore than they did...this fellow, Jesus.

And what the man trieddesperately to point out to themwas that maybe it was greatthat they didn't know whereHe came from.Maybe that plus the miraclemade Him more likelywho He said He was.And that alone was...a marvelous thing.

To have a mystery in front of youand not appreciate it,because you are so wrapped upin being right....How very sad.That was the plight of the Pharisees.And I'm afraid also is the plightof many prideful men and women.

But when Jesus heard​that this newly sighted manwas then cast out of the synagoguefor speaking boldly,He found him, He said to him,“Do you believe in the Son of God?”He answered and said,“Who is He, Lord,that I may believe in Him?”

And Jesus said to him,“You have both seen Himand it is He who is talking with you.”Then he said, “Lord, I believe!”And he worshiped Him.John 9:35-39

And now I think backto that first place when Jesuscame upon the blind man.And the disciples asked Him,Who's sin caused this manto be born born blind?

Jesus answered,“Neither this mannor his parents sinned,but that the works of Godshould be revealed in him. I must work the works of Himwho sent Me while it is day;the night is comingwhen no one can work.As long as I am in the world,I am the light of the world.”John 9:3-5

I believe this is the Teachergiving many lessons at once.This blind man, as far as we can tellhad not even asked for a miracle.

And yet, Jesus had much work to do.active work...the opposite of idleness;what God in Heaven wishes to be done.

​Along with an assigned work...employment, job, occupation;for Jesus that was salvation.To rouse men to believe in Him;to accomplish their salvation

Even if it meant,riling the Pharisees on the Sabbathso that many would start talking,so that a buzz would begin,so that crowds woulddisagree,discuss,debate.

For even then,truth can be found in revelation.And salvation can be hadfor those who will believe.

And Jesus said,“For judgmentI have come into this world,that those who do not seemay see, and thatthose who see may be made blind.”John 9:39

The less we try to reason,as the blind manwho could not see,the more we will receive​when we decide to simply believe.

For judgment is harshfor those who insistupon only reasoning,rather than seeingthrough eyes of faith.

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from my heart...

I write as an overflow... an expression of my true love for God and with a deep desire to encourage others in their day to day lives. For we can only find peace, joy, and satisfaction when we yield to the One who yielded His life for us.